Learning the drill

Drill

Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times

Sgt. David Washington yells at recruits during a water break on a march at Camp Pendleton. The drill instructors will prod and push their charges throughout the grueling 13-week process of becoming a Marine. Youll forget your third-grade teacher, but youll never forget your DI, says Washington, who became a drill instructor to emulate his own DI.

Sgt. David Washington yells at recruits during a water break on a march at Camp Pendleton. The drill instructors will prod and push their charges throughout the grueling 13-week process of becoming a Marine. Youll forget your third-grade teacher, but youll never forget your DI, says Washington, who became a drill instructor to emulate his own DI. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Senior DI Justin Green yells at recruits to drop their bags in front of them as they stop for a break. During the march, Green will carry the same 60-pound pack as his recruits and will scale the same hills -- but he'll barely break a sweat while he keeps an eye out for stragglers.

Senior DI Justin Green yells at recruits to drop their bags in front of them as they stop for a break. During the march, Green will carry the same 60-pound pack as his recruits and will scale the same hills -- but he'll barely break a sweat while he keeps an eye out for stragglers. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)